Mayor's Knife Crime Strategy: putting a stop to knife crime in London

Date published: 27 June 2017

1,844 Londoners under 25 were injured as a result of non-domestic knife crimes in 2016. This is the highest level since 2012. Behind each of these offences is a young life derailed, a family traumatised and a community damaged.

We must act to stop this increase, and then work to reduce these crimes to protect young Londoners, their families and communities from the devastating harm of knife crime and violence.

Mayor Sadiq Khan has launched a plan of action to tackle knife crime in London by:

How we're taking action

We are supporting the Metropolitan Police Service who are taking tough action to enforce the law, including more Borough-led activity to catch knife offenders.

We are also working with the Criminal Justice Service to make sure that those found guiilty of knife crimes receive tougher sentences.

Offering a way out of crime

We will not give up on young people caught up in crime who are looking for a way out. We are expanding our work to reach out to those caught up in crime and give them the skills, resources and confidence to leave a life of crime behind.

Keeping deadly weapons off our streets

We are working with retailers and Trading Standards to enforce the laws that prevent the sale of knives to underage young people, on the high street and online.

Protecting and educating young people

We must not accept that crime and violence is a foregone conclusion for any young person in London, regardless of their circumstances.

We are strengthening our work with partners to direct young people who are at highest risk of offending and victimisation, away from a life ruined by crime.

Standing with communities, neighbourhoods and families against knife crime

Our communities are sick and tired of the damage being done by knife crime. We are supporting communities as they stand up against knife crime, with new funding for grass-roots community activities to protect their children and drive out crime.

Supporting victims of knife crime

Knife crime hurts more than just the person physically injured, and support services must reach further. We are investing more to support the victims of knife crime, their families and wider communities.